. >>> but first, the struggle over avoiding the fiscal cliff. new polling suggests support for president obama's position in the standoff with congressional republicans. >> the new associated press poll finds 48% of americans want tax cuts for wealthy to expire. and it says more people want to cut government services than raise taxes to reduce the federal deficit. >> now, if the nation goes over the cliff at the end of the year, it's going to affect everyone, including the unemployed, as abc's jonathan karl reports. >> reporter: melinda vega has been put on notice. if congress and the president don't get their act together, her unemployment checks will stop immediately at the end of the year. >> we're dependent on that money to pay our bills. >> reporter: she's been without a job for a year. her $450 a week unemployment check her life line. >> we won't be able to pay some of our bills and, i mean, you know, that's for christmas and things of that nature, probably off the table. >> reporter: she is not alone. without a deal, unemployment compensa